German politicians are up in arms after billionaire Elon Musk called the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party “the last spark of hope” for the country. In an op-ed published on December 29th, Musk claimed that Germany is “teetering on the brink of economic and cultural collapse”. The remarks, which praised the AfD’s stance on politics, have sparked widespread outrage among Germans. As the federal election approaches on February 23rd, Ms Alice Weidel, co-head of the AfD party, has been hailed as a beneficiary of Musk’s endorsement.
The criticism is aimed at Musk for appearing to legitimize the AfD’s ideology, which many see as extremist. With Musk having invested heavily in Germany through his Tesla plant, some question whether he had a right to speak out on German politics. Nevertheless, the op-ed has sparked heated debate about the role of foreign influence in shaping Germany’s politics and the impact it may have on the upcoming election.
Source: https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/01/02/elon-musks-praise-for-the-far-right-infuriates-most-of-germany